Dedicated to the conservation and restoration of nature, The Larch Company is a non-membership for-profit organization that represents species that cannot talk and humans not yet born. A deciduous conifer, the western larch has a contrary nature.

Appendix D: The Desert Trail

In 1974, a beloved high school biology teacher had a vision of a hiking trail from Canada to Mexico. Yes, it has been done along the Pacific Crest and is being done along the Continental Divide, but not through the deserts and grasslands of the Interior West. Russ Pengelly founded the Desert Trail Association to make his vision a reality.

Living in Burns, he naturally started with segments on and near Steens Moun- tain. Russ has passed on to that 0 percent grade in the sky, but his fine work is being carried on by the Desert Trail Association.

Much of the trail is not actually a trail, but a corridor marked by cairns (don't knock over these rockpiles).

The Desert Trail Association has published eight detailed "trail" guides (see table) and continues its methodical plotting and plodding northward and south- ward, staying to public lands where possible. Someday the Desert Trail will reach the nation's borders. In the meantime, several sections of the trail have been rec- ognized as national recreational trails under the National Trails System Act. Such an administrative designation isn't as good as a congressionally designated na- tional scenic trail, a status that this route richly deserves.

You can obtain each trail guide for $7 postpaid. While you're at it, also fork over enough to become a member ($12/year or $20/2 years individual; $18/year or $28/2 years family) and to receive a newsletter. While it is an all-volunteer outfit, the Desert Trail Association still has overhead costs worthy of your sup- port. Of course, they would greatly welcome your direct participation as well.

If you're planning to do long stretches, walk north. The weather is better earlier in the year in the south and the sun isn't in your eyes. You also need to time your traversing of Steens Mountain during the snow-free season of late July through September.